9 great revenge thrillers to get stuck into
A vigilante predator-hunter finds her work coming too close to home in Her Two Lives, the heart-pounding debut thriller from Nilesha Chauvet. A writer of zeitgeist psychological suspense, and with a taste for the dark corners of justice, Nilesha joins us to share her top picks for the most unforgettable revenge thrillers, from compelling classics to modern must-reads.
"Revenge thrillers speak to the soul in the same way love stories do. They appeal to our innate desire to avenge wrongdoing, promising cathartic closure. They feel more relevant today because the world around us appears unfair and unjust and is increasingly polarised.
In an era defined by social and political upheaval, stories of revenge provide a safe framework to explore themes of power, corruption, justice and the grey areas of morality, where right and wrong, good and evil, are not always clear-cut. They afford us a healthy challenge to conventional wisdom and societal norms, enabling us to confront uncomfortable truths. They force us to ask important questions about our lives and how we treat one another.
The very best revenge thrillers provide insight into the human condition, the extreme lengths we go to in our quest to protect those whom we love, and may even help us process complex human experiences such as trauma." Nilesha Chauvet
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The best revenge takes time. Edmond Dantès waits twenty-four years.
This classic novel, inspired by a real-life case of wrongful imprisonment, is an epic tale of injustice and retribution. When Dantès, thrown in prison for a crime he did not commit, learns of a hoard of treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo, he grows determined to escape prison and to use the treasure to help destroy the three men responsible for his incarceration. But soon, Dantès learns that revenge comes with a price, and consequences must inevitably follow.
Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller
Heller's deliciously dark Booker-shortlisted novel tells the story of Barbara Covett, who grows infatuated with St George's new history teacher, Sheba Hart. When Sheba is discovered having an underage affair with one of her pupils, Barbara is consumed with jealousy and resentment. Heller writes a disturbing yet moving portrayal of revenge borne of loneliness and obsession.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
In this story-within-a-story, Jacob Finch Bonner, once a celebrated young novelist, steals the plot of a talented though arrogant and narcissistic student, Evan Parker. When Evan dies, Jake passes the plot off as his own, writing the story with his own flourishes. The novel is a huge hit, earning him fame and fortune. But then an email arrives – the first in a terrifying, anonymous campaign – claiming to know what he did and threatening to expose him. This is a story of revenge hiding in plain sight, careering to a somewhat fitting denouement.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...
Nick Dunne has a lot to answer for when his wife, Amy, suddenly disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary. In the court of public opinion, Nick is the prime suspect. But what really happened to his beautiful wife? Just how well can you ever know the person you love? In this novel, marital revenge is set for a page-turning collision course.
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Stephen King's much loved and heart-wrenching novella follows the story of Andy Dufresne, unjustly imprisoned for the murder of his wife and her lover. When it dawns on him that he may never be released, Andy seeks his ultimate revenge powered by a quest for freedom; satisfyingly served with a hint of poetic justice.
Redemption by Jack Jordan
There's a clue in the name. Consumed by grief and rage after Aaron killed her son in a hit-and-run, Evelyn has been counting down the days until his release from prison. After eleven long years waiting, she finally sees her chance for redemption. Unknown to her, Tobias, her husband, is determined to save her from herself. Soon, the two embark on a breathless pursuit across the Nevada desert. This is revenge born of heartbreak and loss, leaving readers too afraid to look as characters career to the very end of the road...
Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Banned in 1823 as ‘an outrage to public morality’, this novel is delightful...
Two wealthy aristocrats are clearly bored. Amoral by nature, they plot the seduction and downfall of a respectable young woman, Cécile de Volanges. This sophisticated novel poses questions about the relationship between love and sex, and suggests that, in certain quarters of eighteenth-century French high society, wealth and privilege leads to idleness, and worse still, abominable behaviour. Here, revenge transcends individual exploits to provide social commentary on class. Interesting to note: seven years after Dangerous Liaisons was published, the Revolution occurred.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Possibly Shakespeare's most popular play, Hamlet is a revenge tragedy where, unfortunately, no one wins. Hamlet seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. But his uncle, fearing for his life, also devises a plot to kill Hamlet. It was never going to end well.
The Life and Loves of a She-Devil by Fay Weldon
When plain Ruth Patchett discovers that her husband is having an affair with Mary Fisher, a rich and beautiful romantic novelist, she is so crazed by envy that within weeks, she has burnt down the family home, collected the insurance money, retrained as a care worker, made love to the local drunk and has even set up her own business.
Perhaps revenge is precisely the right kind of motivation needed.
About Her Two Lives Nilesha Chauvet
Rita Marsh has two lives.
By day she cares for the elderly, and by night she hunts down men who prey on young girls. But now a suspect is dead, and the police are on her tail.
When an old school friend shows up with her own dark story to tell, Rita can’t help herself being drawn to danger – and her two worlds start to collide.
How far will she go for justice? And how much further for revenge?
Gift cards
Give a luxury gift
Our stylish Editions gift card is the perfect present for the discerning bibliophile. UK only.
Gift cards
Made from paper, not plastic
National Book Tokens gift cards have been printed on FSC-certified paper board rather than plastic since 2018.
Discover
Discover our book recommendations
We've got recommendations for all readers, from authors, booksellers, and our book-loving team.
